Cleaning Agent Dispenser for a Flushing Tank

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for dispensing a determined quantity of a liquid treating agent in a flush tank includes at least one metering cavity whose volume is close to the volume of the dose of a dispensable product, first part for communicating the cavity with a product storage tank, second part for controllingly connecting the cavity with outside, closing elements of the second part, which are controlled by a member floatingly mounted on a surface of water contained the flush tank and make it possible to close them during the waiting phase of the flushing device and to open the part when the flushing device is actuated.

This present invention concerns a device or arrangement intended to effect the dispensing of a set quantity of a liquid treatment product into a flush cistern.

It is already known that a WC flush mechanism, as well as the cistern in which the latter is caused to inject the cleaning water, form a seat for the formation of different polluting elements, such as lime scale and various micro-organisms in particular.

It has also been observed of course that, depending on the hardness of the water used, the scale deposits that form in the flush mechanism and in cistern vary in their severity and that, in some cases, after a substantial period of use, these deposits become particularly objectionable, going so far on occasion as to purely and simply block the actuating mechanisms of the flush. Moreover, the formation of scale in the cistern contributes firstly to damage the appearance of the latter, and secondly, in particular because of the porous character of lime scale, to retain in the said cistern elements of organic material, that are able to pass through the latter.

Regarding the micro-organisms that develop both in the cistern and in the reservoir of the WC flush mechanism itself, it should be remembered that their development may be the source of numerous inconveniences, and in particular of unpleasant odours.

This is why various means have been proposed in order effect cleaning of both the cistern and the reservoir of the WC flush mechanism. Cleaning products have thus been proposed in solid form which, on each operation of the flush, dissolve a certain quantity of the product in the rinsing water of the latter. It has been observed that such devices have not been very effective, and that their effectiveness has moreover reduced as the solid product dissolved.

It has also been proposed that use should be made of liquid cleaning products, delivered by appliances fitted either inside the reservoir of the WC flush or inside the cistern itself, and which, on each operation of the latter, are designed to release a certain quantity of cleaning liquid inside of the latter, which when driven by the water injected by the flush, also cleans the interior of the cistern.

Patent FR 2 808 897 thus proposed a device composed of a reservoir for the storage of a cleaning product, the bottom part of which ends with a tubular element opening into a cavity inside of which is mounted a mobile spherical stopper, which is attached to a float mounted so that it floats on the surface of the water in the flush mechanism. Thus, when the reservoir of the latter is full, the float applies the spherical stopper against the base of the tubular element, thus closing off the exit to the cleaning product. Conversely, when the flush is operated, the level of the water descends in the reservoir of the flush, so that the spherical stopper releases the product to flow into the cavity and closes off the base of the latter, so that the said cavity then fills up with a quantity of cleaning product. When the reservoir of the flush mechanism fills up, the float raises the spherical stopper, thus allowing the product contained in the cavity within the reservoir to flow and, after a certain time, when the level, of the water in the latter is sufficient, the spherical stopper blocks the flow of the treatment product. A drawback of this type of device is that, in the intermediate position of the spherical stopper, the treatment product is quite free to flow directly from the storage receptacle into the reservoir of the flush. The quantity of treatment product thus dispensed therefore depends essentially on the rise time of the spherical stopper from its down position to its up position, and not on the volume of a storage cavity. Now it happens that this rise time is not a fixed period, since it depends on the state of a certain number of elements of the mechanism, on the pressure of the water supplying the flush, on the height of the product in its receptacle, etc.

Devices of this type are therefore not capable of delivering precise and identical measures of cleaning product on each operation of the flush.

Proposals have also been made concerning devices of the drawer type, such as that described in patent FR 2 618 470, in which the cleaning product is contained in a storage receptacle on the bottom of which is positioned a mobile stopper that slides vertically under the action of a float that is controlled by the level of the water contained in the flush mechanism. When the flush is full, the float moves the stopper element to an up position, and when the flush empties, the float moves the stopper element downward into a down position. This stopper element is designed so that in the up position, the stored liquid is able to enter into a cavity of the latter and its bottom part is closes off, and so that in the down position, the bottom part of the stopper is in communication with the interior of the flush reservoir and the top part is closed off. Thus, when the stopper element is located in the top part, the liquid in the storage reservoir therefore enters into the stopper element and, when the float is located in the down position, the volume of product contained in the stopper element is quite free to flow into the reservoir of the flush. However devices of this type, like those mentioned previously, exhibit the drawback that in intermediate position of the stopper element, the cleaning liquid contained in the storage reservoir is in direct communication with the interior of the flush, and the time of this communication depends directly on the time it takes to fill the latter.

The device proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,726,406 includes a storage reservoir containing a disinfectant product to be dispensed, fitted at its base with an exit orifice that can be shut off by a valve attached to a float. Thus, in a first stage, when the flush is operated, the level of water in the reservoir descends and becomes insufficient to raise the float, so that the valve then closes off the exit of the reservoir. Then, in a second stage, the water rises in the reservoir and raises the float, thus moving the valve away from its seating and allowing the disinfectant product to flow into the reservoir. And finally, in a third stage, the level of the water in the reservoir continues to rise so that, according to the applicant, when the level of the water reaches that of the valve, the water itself then effects the closure to the flow of the product. It is understood that such a device also exhibits the drawbacks seen in the other devices mentioned from the prior state of the technique, namely the fact that the quantity of product dispensed is a function of the fill time of the flush reservoir.

The purpose of this present invention is to propose a device that is intended to deliver precise quantities of cleaning products, and in which the fill time of the reservoir of the WC flush mechanism only has a very small impact on the quantity of liquid product delivered.

The subject of this present invention is therefore a device for dispensing a set quantity of a treatment liquid product into the reservoir of a WC flush during the operation of the latter, characterised in that it includes:

-   -   at least one measuring cavity whose volume is close to that of         the quantity of product to be dispensed,     -   first means for bringing this cavity into communication with a         storage reservoir for the said product,     -   second, means for arranging controlled communication of this         cavity with the reservoir of the WC flush mechanism, with the         pressure drop in the first means being at least five times that         of the pressure drop in the second means,     -   a vent for putting the said cavity into communication with the         exterior,     -   stopper elements of the second means, controlled by a device         mounted to float on the surface of the water contained in the         reservoir of the flush mechanism, and used to shut them off         during the wait phase of the WC flush, and to open them during         the operation of the latter.

In one embodiment of this present invention, the measuring cavity will be positioned in a vertical cylindrical element traversing the reservoir for the storage of the product. The measuring-out reservoir will preferably be positioned under the storage reservoir, thus allowing the full volume of the latter to be used.

According to the invention, the first means for putting the measuring cavity into communication with the storage reservoir can be composed of an intake orifice.

In one embodiment, the measuring cavity will be closed at its bottom part by closure means traversed by an outlet channel whose cross section is at least five times that of the intake orifice.

The stopper elements can be composed of a valve whose operation is controlled from the said device mounted to float on the surface of the water contained in the reservoir of the flush. This valve can be mounted so that if moves in translation or in rotation.

According to the invention it is also possible to provide means that are capable of putting an associated reservoir in communication with the measuring cavity, so as to increase the volume (V+V′+) of the product delivered.

Finally, in order to improve the dispensing regularity of the product delivered, the said device, mounted to float, can be hollowed out in its top part, with a cavity that is intended to receive the product dispensed by the stopper elements, extended by grooves designed to dispense the said product at its surface.

In order to facilitate the filling of the storage receptacle, the top part of the latter can be in communication with an external fill tank, possibly closed by a lid.

The reservoir of the WC flush can include at least water intake orifices, one of these being used to effect the fixing in the latter of the storage reservoir, and where this orifice is also used to put the external fill tank into communication with the latter.

A description will now be given, by way of non-limiting examples, of various forms of execution of this present invention, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in partial vertical section of a device according to the invention secured to the inside wall of a reservoir of a WC flush mechanism, represented in its position awaiting flush operation,

FIG. 2 is a view in partial vertical section of the device according to the invention of FIG. 1 represented in its position when operating the flush,

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are views in partial section of a variant of embodiment of the closure means represented in FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views in partial, section of two variants of embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a view in partial vertical section of a means used, to control, from, the outside, the filling with treatment, product, of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a view in partial vertical section of a means employed to favour the regularity with which the treatment product is dispensed inside the reservoir of the flush mechanism.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a device 1 according to the invention, which is composed of a cylindrical storage receptacle 2 that is secured to the inner surface of a wall 3 a of a WC flush reservoir 3. To this end, the lateral wall of the storage receptacle 2 is pierced by an orifice 4, where this orifice, as well as a corresponding orifice 5 in the wall 3 a, are traversed by a screw element 7 secured by a nut 8 with the inclusion of a sealing washer 9.

The receptacle 2 is traversed axially by a tubular cylindrical element 10, the bottom part of which ends with a cavity 12 whose volume V corresponds more-or-less to the volume of a quantity of product 6 that is contained in the receptacle 2. The cavity 12 is closed at its bottom part by a stopper 17 which is pierced by an axial and longitudinal channel 19 of diameter D. The cavity 12 communicates with the interior of the receptacle 2 via an orifice 14 whose diameter d is very much smaller than diameter D. This diameter will preferably be such that the volume of the liquid product 6 flowing through the orifice 14 during the time necessary for the reservoir of the flush mechanism to fill is small in relation to the volume V of the cavity 12. For a volume V=2 cm³, one can thus have a diameter d=0.6mm, with the diameter of the outlet orifice of the cavity 12 being D=6 mm.

The tubular element 10 is traversed by a longitudinal channel 16 putting the internal volume V of the cavity 12 in communication with the atmosphere, and thus playing the role of a vent.

The outlet orifice of the channel 19 is closed by a stopper system controlled by a float mounted to float on the surface of the water inside the reservoir 3 of the flush mechanism.

More precisely, this stopper device is composed of a cylindrical part 20 pierced at its top part with an orifice 22, extended toward the interior by a cavity 23, with the diameters of the latter and of the orifice 22 being such that the cylindrical part 20 can be introduced around an o-ring 24 fitted into a circular groove in the cylindrical element 10, and which comprises a stop element. The cavity 23 is equipped with an annular contact zone 26, which acts as a guide for the sliding of the cylindrical part 20 on the cylindrical element 10. The bottom part of the cylindrical part 20 is equipped with an external screw thread on which is screwed a cylindrical cap 25 whose inside surface is hollowed out to receive a shut-off valve 28. In addition, the bottom of the cap 25 is pierced by a series of outlet holes 27 whose total area is far greater than that of the channel 19. The cap 25 is extended downwards by a central rod 31 attached to a float 32.

In these conditions, the operation of the device according to the invention is as explained below.

When the device is located in the position represented in FIG. 1, the level N of the water inside the reservoir 3 of the flush mechanism is such that the float 32 applies the valve 28 against the exit of the channel 19 thus shutting off the latter. In this position, the treatment liquid contained in the receptacle 2 flows through the orifice 14 created in the cylindrical element 10, into the cavity 12, expelling the air contained in the latter via the vent 16. Since the diameter d of the orifice 14 is small, of the order of 0.6 mm for example, the fill time of the cavity 12 is relatively long, which is not really a constraint to the extent that this is a period during which the WC flush is unused.

When a user operates the latter, the level of the water in the reservoir of the flush drops suddenly, as does the float 32, and the cylindrical part 20 then descends by gravity with the effect of unstopping the outlet orifice of the channel 19. As a result, the treatment liquid contained in the cavity 12, of volume V, flows rapidly, through the channel 19 firstly and through the outlet holes 27 secondly, which, because of their relatively large area (of the order of 20 mm²) allow rapid emptying of the said cavity.

Thus, by way of an example, in the case of a cavity 12 measuring 2 cm³ and an orifice 14 whose diameter d is equal to 0.6 mm, and for a fill time of the WC flush reservoir of 12 seconds (this time corresponding in fact to that necessary for the level N of the water in the reservoir of the flush to reach the float 32), this being an average value, the volume v flowing through the orifice 14 will be about 0.1 cm³, which is a low value in relation to the volume V of the cavity 12, with the overall volume of product delivered V+v thus being equal to 2+0.1 cm³. It can be seen that, in these conditions, perturbation of diverse origin liable to alter the fill time of the reservoir of the flush mechanism, to the extent that they act only on the volume v which is small in relation to the volume of the cavity V, will have only a minor impact on the overall volume of product delivered.

Other devices can naturally be proposed that can equally well be used to shut off the outlet orifice of the channel 19 provided in the cylindrical element 10.

As represented in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, attached to the stopper 17 are two support brackets 36 on which a plate 37 is hinged around an axle 38. The plate 37 is hollowed out with a cavity in which a valve 39 is fixed so that the latter is able to close off the exit of the channel 19 when it is applied against the stopper 17 (FIG. 3 a) or on the other hand, is able to free the latter when the plate pivots downwards (FIG. 3 b). The position of the plate 37 is controlled by a float 40 that is secured under the latter by means of a rod 41. It can be seen that in these conditions, depending on the level N of the water contained in the reservoir of the flush mechanism, the float 40 controls the closing or the opening of the channel outlet 19.

In order to allow the user to alter the volume V of the measuring-out reservoir 12 as he or she wishes, it is possible to add to the latter additional storage volumes V′, V″, etc.

Thus in FIG. 4, a wall element 12 a of the cavity 12 is pierced by two threaded orifices which, in normal use, are closed off by stoppers. When the user wishes to increase the volume V+v of the quantity of product to be dispensed, he removes these stoppers and inserts, in place of the latter, by securing means not shown in the figures, end-pieces 42 a and 42 b, placed respectively at the top and bottom, parts of an additional reservoir 44 of volume V′, so that the volume of the product dispensed, will then be V+V′+v.

In order to favour regularity in the dispensing of the treatment product 6 into the water of the reservoir of the flush mechanism, it is also possible, as represented in FIG. 5, to hollow out, in the top part of the float 32, a volume 45 that is intended to receive the product dispensed, and grooves 46 that extend downwards from this volume and that distribute the released product all around the said float.

It is also possible, in the case where the shut-off action is performed by an eccentric system, as represented in FIGS. 3 a, 3 b and 7, to incline the axis zz′ of the float 32 so that the plate 37 guides the treatment product from the outlet orifice of the channel 19 to the inside of volume 45.

It is also possible to arrange for the filling of the storage receptacle 2 without the user being obliged to first raise the lid 3 b of the reservoir 3 of the flush mechanism. Thus, in the embodiment variant of the invention represented in FIG. 6, on one of the sides of the reservoir 3, an external receptacle 50 has been placed to form a funnel that is closed by a lid 51, and in which a vertical wall is pierced with a hole 54 traversed by a threaded tube 55 that also traverses the orifice 5 of the reservoir 3 and the orifice 4 of the storage receptacle 2, with this assembly being secured by nuts 56, including the insertion of appropriate sealing gaskets. In order to fill the storage receptacle 2, it can be seen that it suffices for the user to raise the lid 51 and to pour the treatment product into the receptacle 50 forming the funnel.

When the reservoir of the WC flush mechanism includes water intake orifices that are positioned so as not to be compatible with the fixing of the measuring-out device of the invention inside the latter, it is possible to make use of means that will allow it to be secured to the internal walls of the reservoir. These securing means can, in particular, be composed of two actuators acting in opposition and anchored on the opposite walls of the reservoir of the flush mechanism, with the contact between the actuators and the said walls being preferably by means of suction cups. 

1. A device for dispensing a set quantity of a treatment liquid product (6) into the reservoir (3) of a WC flush mechanism, during the operation of the WC flush mechanism comprising: at least one measuring cavity (12) whose volume (V) is close to a volume of a quantity (V+v) of product to be dispensed, first means (14) for bringing this cavity into communication (12) with a storage reservoir (2) for the said product (6), second means (19) for arranging controlled communication of this cavity (12) with the reservoir (3) of the WC flush mechanism, the pressure drop of the first means (14) being at least five times that of the pressure drop of the second means (19), a vent (16) for putting the said cavity (12) in communication with the exterior, and stopper elements (28, 39) of the second means (19), controlled by a device (32) that is mounted so that it floats on the surface (N) of the water contained in the reservoir (3) of the flush mechanism, and that is used to shut them off during the wait phase of the WC flush and to open them during the operation of the latter.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring cavity (12) is positioned inside of a vertical cylindrical element (10) traversing the storage reservoir (2).
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring cavity (12) is positioned below the storage reservoir (2).
 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first means for putting the measuring cavity (12) into communication with the storage reservoir (2) are composed of an intake orifice (14).
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring cavity (12) is closed at its bottom part by closure means (17) traversed by an outlet channel (19) whose cross section is at least five times that of the intake orifice (14).
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the stopper elements are composed of a valve (28, 39) whose operation is controlled from the said floating device (32).
 7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the valve (28, 39) is mounted so that it moves in translation.
 8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the valve (28, 39) is mounted so that it moves in rotation.
 9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising: means that are designed to put an additional reservoir (44) in communication with the measuring cavity (12), so as to increase the volume (V+V′+v) of the product (6) delivered.
 10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the said device, mounted to float (32), is hollowed out at its top part, with a cavity (45) that is intended to receive the product dispensed by the stopper elements (28, 39), extended by grooves (46) designed to dispense the said product at its surface.
 11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the top part of the storage receptacle (2) is in communication with an external fill tank (50), possibly closed by a lid (51).
 12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir (3) of the WC flush mechanism includes at least water intake orifices, one these being used to effect the fixing in the latter of the storage reservoir (2).
 13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the water intake orifices used for the fixation of the storage reservoir (14) also arrange for the putting in communication of the latter with the external fill tank (50).
 14. The device according to claim 1, further comprises the means for attachment to the internal walls of the flush reservoir (3).
 15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the fixing means are composed of two actuators, acting in opposition, and anchored on the opposite walls of the flush reservoir, with the contact between the actuators and the said walls being by means of a suction cup.
 16. The device according to claim 2, wherein the measuring cavity (12) is positioned below the storage reservoir (2). 